Portable overhead jack



March 6, 1945. H. Ki. CHRISTIE PORTABLE OVERHEAD JACK Filed sept. 22, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l @Ew Mrcl'l 6, 1945. K CHRlsTlE 2,370,842

PORTABLE OVERHEAD JACK Filed Sept. 22, 1943 CS'Sheets-Sheet 2 March 6, 1945. H. K. CHRISTIE PORTABLE OVERHEAD JACK 3' sheets-sheet 3 Filed sept. 22, 194s n A MOI/1m@ Patented Mar. 6, 1945 l 1 3 PonfrBnEzovERnEAncAcx t n 'n Hugh-KtChri-stierl'larivey, Il lra's'signor to I Corperation,` .Harvey, Ill., afcorporatio'n of `Illi- Apoiioatioiisootoorbr 22, iets, s oriamo. 563,374: o

'The present invention relates {generally-gto portable overhead jacks; More particularly `the invention relates to that type off portable" overhead' jack which is adapted tctravelf backfand forth along a track in the form` of 'a pair oflaterally space-d rails` and as itsfprinc'pal parts comprises a gantry" type supporting structuraVa-Pwhe'el equipped truck on the brfdgei of the Vs lnnporting structure, and raising4 and loweringfrnechanism on the truck. f I Y One object of the inventionfisl litc-provide a portable overhead jack Of-this type-which `has special utility in connection with dismantling-the moval of the trucks iroinfthelomocotive" chassis and is characterized by simplicityarid" eheapness of" construction as lwell as;"l'iil'ghf'efficiency,I ease- Of Uperation and durability;

Another object of' the invention is tofprovide" a portable overhead jack-gin' which^the raising and lowering mechanism on the truclcompris'es a vertically extending screwA shaft"v and" moto'r driven gearing for shifting the` shafty upwards and downwards. f

A further object of lthe invention is. to'provide afp'ortableoverhead jack' ofI the lastmentioned characterv in' which the vertically extending screw o shaft of the raising `and lowering mechanismA embodiesa hook at its lower eri'dLIor attachment to the load andfis" supported3 andhf'oused in a' simple and novel manner;

f A still further object ofthe invention1 isto pro` v vide a portable overhead jack'wliich".isgenerally of new'and'improved construction and is an im-v provementl upon, and has' certain 'advantages over; previously designedjacksof the' samegenf'-v eral character; i j l' Other objects of the invent'ongandthevariousadvantages and` characteristics` ofi'the-present portable 'overhead jack will: be. apparent yfrom a consideration of'V thefollowing.. detail'edfd'escription.

The invention. consists `inthe1severa1l novelf features which are. hereinaftersetsfforth,and. arey more' particularly n definedby claims at" the con-v clusi'on'h'ereof.` v f Jin-:the drawings whi'chvaccmpany and form. a part of this specilcation or disclosurefand' in Whchlike'nurne'ral's of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the` several views:v

' Figurek 1 isa sideV view' of 'aportable overhead" jackv embodying the inventiom equipped truck, parts being shown` in side elevation and-'otherpartsbjeing shownin section; `Figure 4'fis an'enlargedverticalI transverse secti'onuta'ken on:v the. line:I 4--4 tot Figure I and showin'g'the'truckinendelevationif Figure 5 is a: horizontal sectionlof: the housing which2 formsapart of the frame' of' the-truck and serves toy enclose" the` gearing". for shiftingk the screw shaft upwardsA and downwards;

Fi'gure isk a. vertical. section"` taken o'nthe line 6` 4 6 ofV Figure andillustrating infdetail the manner in which the.l screwishait is supported A andlhoused.; and" Y.

o Figurel 7 isa horizontal` section taken lon'f'the line 'Ir-1 of Figuro-'filand` showingtheconstructionifand design ofy theme'ansfor holding'` the screw shaft .against rotation whilaati thev same tmelpermitting the shaft to' slide vertically'.l

The-overhead jacl:L which isshown inthe; drawilings constitutes. the` preferred. form or embodiment ofi theA invention.y It is portable andi has specialv utility lin dismantling thet'rucks` of Diesel typeilocomotives'v afterfremoval of4 the? trucks'rom thefl'ocomotive chassis. Asit's mainfor 'principal parts the: jack` comprises a; gantry' type:` support'- ing` structure 8, a, truck 9;y and loadl` raising" and lowering'mechanism` I0, f

Thesupp'orting structures isadaptedft' "trav-eli.

. backand forth along-atrack Ill-andl'servesasga supportingA mediumI for the` trucicxin` TheI tract:y H ,asfshown in Figure 1, comprises aipairl ofi lat# erally.v spaced railsl2 whi'ch'lia're disposed-out-x wards of,l and-in straddled `relation with, a stand# y' ard gauge` release or service track I3,4 'tI-he latjter" is adapted" tc receive. thek locomotive 'trucks after removall or disconnection-'thereof frornathe' t Diesel electric' locomotives beingfserviced'. Thev rails I2' Aof' the trackn Il are' preferablyyspaced equidistantly from therailsy constituting the.

The supporting structurel 8 :consists track f3.- o fv a horizontal bridge |41 and a" plurality of up-l standing' legsgl 5 atthe ends ofy the; brdga The lengthvr of the fbrid'gecorrespondsf substantiallyv to"v the 'width of theA space between! the rails l-I "l constituting' tne'tr'aokf mij kIt lioheid or maine-j tained in elevated-relationfby the leggi |51 andlj o consistsv of a pair" cf parallel; 'laterally spaced;y

Figure 2 lis an endview, lcertain'partsl b'eingfl broken-away for.illustrative'purposes:ij

coterrninouschannel beams''i; The latterare1 l varrangedjso thatthe websjthereof'extend ver@ tically and ltheir ii'ar'igesextendv outwards:v The. endsfory the channelbeamsA I'Sarecr'oss connected by apair of vertically extending' plates I1? and a pair'iofhorizontalplatefsv z l 8. The verticall plates zontal plates I8 underlie and are welded to the end portions of the lower flanges of the beams It. The legs I5 are four in number and are arranged so that there are two at each end of the bridge I4. Preferably the legs are formed of pipe or tubular stock. The two legs at each end of the bridge are downwardly divergent as shown in Figure 2. The upper ends of the legs are welded or otherwise xedly secured to the horizontal plates I8 which, as previously pointed out, operate in conjunction with the vertical plates I1 to cross connect the channel beams I6 forming the bridge I4 of the gantry type supporting structure 8. Substantially vertical gussetplates I9 extend between, and areweldedzto, the upper ends of the legs I5 and the inner portions of the horizontal plates I8 and serve to brace the legs. In addition to the bridge I4 and the legs. I5 the supporting structure 8 comprises four wheels 20. These wheels are mounted on, and adapted to travel along, the railsv I2 of the track Il andarel arranged so that one is located at; the lower end of each of the legs I5. Each of the wheels is provided with a central horizontally arranged axle` 2l which is journalled ina journal box 22. The boxes 22 are associated respectively with, and are welded or otherwise iixedly secured tothe lower ends of, the legs I5. A horizontally extending-.pipe type brace 23 extends between, and isxedly secured-to each pair of journal boxes 22,Y as `shown in Figure 2. The wheels 2U permit the gantrytypeisupporting structure 8 to journalled in, the bearings 32. The supporting wheels 26 are keyed or otherwise xedly secured to the ends of the axle 33 and are adapted to travel on the upper iianges of the channel beams I6 of the bridge I4, as shown in Figure 4. The inner portions of the wheels 26 are provided with radially extending annular flanges 26a and these coact with the upper inner corners of the channel beams I6 to'hold the truck 9 against sidewise or lateral displacement with respect to the bridge I4 of the gantry type supporting structure 8. The outer ends of the arms are provided with a pair of coaxial bearings 34 and these serve rotatably to support a horizontal axle 35. The supporting wheels 21 are mounted on the ends of the axle and, Vlike the wheels 26, are adapted to travel on the upper flanges of the channel a beams I6. The inner portions of the wheels 21 be shifted in either direction along the track II.

Ifjdesired the axles of certain of the wheels may beprovided with ratchet type levers 24 for use in manually propelling the supporting structure Withrespect to the track II. 1 Y

The truck 9 is horizontally elongated and serves as' a'mobile. unit or mediuml for supporting the raising and lowering mechanism IU. It extends lengthwise of, and is adapted to travel back and forth along,;the bridge -I4 of the gantry type supporting structure 8, and comprises a frame 25,;apar of coaxial vsupporting wheels 26 at one endofthe frame, and a pair of coaxial supporting wheels 21 at the other end .of the frame.l The frame 25 is preferably in thevform of a one-piece metalliccastingand consists of an elongated centralpart 28,.a pair of` laterally spaced, longitudinally extending arms 23 at one end of the centralj part, Aand a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinallyextendingarms 38 atr the other end af said central part of the frame. `As shownin Figures 5 and6 the central part 23 of the frame is shaped so that it deiines an open top housing and consists of a bottom wall andan upstanding rec-- tangular side wall. The open top oithehousing that is defined by the central part 28 ofthe truck frame 25 is closed by a rectangular cover plate 3l which rests upon, and is removably secured to, an outwardly extending marginal ange at the. upper margin yof the upper rectangular side wall of said central part 23. When the cover plate 3ly is released accessmay be hadto the interior of the housing. The arms 29extend horizontally and project .outwards in one direction from the housing dening central part`of the truck framel 25. The other arms, i. e., the arms 33, extend horizontally and project outwards in the opposite direction` from the central part 28 of the truck. Preferably the inner ends of the armsZSare extended inwards and join the inner ends of the arms 30. The outer `ends vof `the arms v29 are shaped' to define a pair cf'coaxial bearings 32.Y lf'; horizontal axle 33I extendsjthrcugh, land is manually `manipulable gearing 36 is provided. l This gearing comprises a pinion 31 and a gear 38.

The pinion 31 is mounted on a horizontally extending shaft 39 which overlies, and is disposed in parallel relationwith, the axle 33 and is journalled in a pair of bearings l41).. The latter, as shownuin Figure 4, are connected to, and project y upwards fromthe `bearings 32 for the axle 33.

' The gear 38` meshes with the p inion3v1. (see Figure 3). yIt is mounted onthe central portion of the axle 33 and is disposedbetween the Abearings 32 at the outer ends of the arms 29 of the truck frame 25. In addition to the pinion 31 and the gear 38-theA gearing 36 comprises a wheel 4| and an endless chain 42. The wheel 4l is fixedly securedfto one 'end of the pinion carrying shaft l39l andhas a circumferentially grooved periphery.

t The chain 42 extends around, and. depends from,

the wheel'4l as shown in Figure l and is of such length that the bottom portion thereof may be readily grasped by the opera-torni the jack. By pulling. downwards on one of thel side reaches of the ,chainthe wheel Y4I is'caused'to vrotate in one direction and operates through the medium of the pinion 31 and the gear 38 to propel the truck 9 vin one direction -along the bridge I4. Downward pulling of the other [side reach of the chain vre#` sultsin reverse rotation of the wheel 4I and shift or propulsionY of'th'el truck in the opposite direc-J tion along the bridge. By manipulatingthe chain the operator of the'jack may propel the truck back and forth along the bridge.

".The load raising and lowering mechanism I0 comprises a vertically extending 4screw shaft 43 and gearing 44 for shifting the'shaft upwards and downwards. Thescrew shaft extends through a circular 'holej 45 in g the, central portion of the bottom wh'eelfof the 'central part 28y of the truck frame"25, and is provided at its lower end with a hook 46. The hook is adapted to be attached tothe load by',r way of chainsor'the like and has at its upper end a'1ug141 which ts within`a fork 48 at the lower endvof the screw shaft and is pivotally connected thereto' by' way of a horizontal pivot pin 49;" .The'cfover plate 3I'is' 'provided at its centralgportion'with a hub-like part 50 through' whichfthe lscre'w, shaft 43 extends. AsshlownA in llig'urel. 6, the hub-lilt`ef part 5U 4is in @aerial rclatien lwith theeholeftsin. the'bettom whe fithecentral part ZSYOfithetruCkJrame M-amis. of slightly. arealr diameter. Annunstandinatube 5J.. servesrto house.` theme-per end Giftige; Srewshaft 43. .The lowerend ofthis. tubeis provided witha radial outwardly extendingnange 5.2V which yrests upon, andis bolted to,

the-upper end of thehub-like part 56 onthecentnalportion of the cover plate l3l. The upper endof the tube 5l is closedpby a disc-like cover. 53. The tube 5| is of sucientlengthto accom-` modate the-screw shaft 43: when. itA is raisedto its,-f,ulle s,t extent with respectto thetruclcfS. .A

orosspin 5.4,.-at theupper endof' the screw shaft serves` to holdthe shaft against rotation ,While at,

the same time permittingjthe shaft to slide vertically withrespectto .thetube5l1 Oneend of:

thl nin nts slidablvin .a ver-tical internalV groove:

5.5, infthe .tube andthev other-end I of l the pin: ex-

tends ythrougha vertical slot 56 in the tube v(see bythe portion of the vbottom wall of the central part 28 that defines the hole 45. The upper end of the nut is journalledgin the hub-like part 56 on the central portion of the cover plate 3l; The

' central portion of the nut is providedwith a radially extending flange 59 and this, as shown in Figure 6, underlies the lower end of the hub-like part 56 and prevents `upward displacement of the nut with respect to the central part 28 of the truck frame 25. When the nut 51 is turned or rotated in one direction the screw shaft 43 is caused to slide upwards. Reverse rotation of the nut results in lowering of the shaft.

The gearing 44 for shifting the screw shaft upwards and downwards is irreversible in character and comprises a worm 6U and a worm wheel 6l. The worm is keyed to the central portion of a horizontally extending shaft 62 and is disposed in the housing that is dened by the central part 28 of the truck frame 25. The ends of the shaft 62 are journalled in bearings 63 in the side parts of the upstanding side wall Aof the central frame part 28. The worm wheel 6l surrounds and is xedly secured to the lower end of the sleeve-like nut 51 and meshes with the worm 6B. When the worm 66 is rotated in one direction it so drives the Worm wheel 6I and the nut 51 as to effect vertical displacement of the screw shaft in one direction. Reverse drive of the worm 60 results in reverse'rotation of the worm gear and nut and resultant vertical displacement of the screw shaft in the opposite direction. A reversible electric motor 64 serves to drive the worm 60 in either direction. This motor is mounted on a bedplate 65 over the. axle 35 and is operatively connected to the shaft 62 by way of a pulley and belt connection 66. As shown in Figure 3, the bed plate 65 is supported by a bracket structure 61 on the outer ends of the arms 30 of the truck frame 25. The pulley and belt connection 66 comprises a pulley 68 on one end of the armature shaft of the motor 64, a pulley 69 on one end of the shaft 66, and an endless belt 10 around the two pulleys.y The electric motor is supplied with current in any suitable manner: andisicontrolledebyia :pusnf'but-temcona trol unit; (not. showin-r. Stich..-unitvr isA prefeiablrS located;withinreachof, the operator ofthe lack. An upper limit switch 1I and a lowerlirnitswitcn 12p-Serra alito Iriatzically torstop the-e1ectric.rmotor when the .screw` Shaft ,isgraised-cr lowered toits f-ullestfextent.y The switch 1|- is locatedat: the. @Berend-ofthe tube 5I and is controlled bythe end. of thecross pinzthatprojectsthrough the verticalsljot 5.6=the;t11be. Theilowerswitch 1:2@

iselocated` adjacent; the lower`v end of2 the tube.v Y

andjs alsdcontrolledbyrsaid Lend ofthe cross pin.-

Vll-hen it is desired to. use ther -Jack to. dismantle.

aDiesel electric locomotiveltruck-after-disconnecf tion, of the-truck from theflocomotive chassis the,

truckfis; rolled onta.the-releaseor service track; E31. The latter, as previously pointedout; isstrad.-

dled by; the -trackrI-I; iornthe.- portable overhead.

jack-f. After'thelocomotive truckpis.; rolled onto the, track I 35thejack asa whole,is;.propel=le,d into; overlying relationwith the.; truck by manipulation of the levers z 2.4;.vv -When,. the jackrisf-properly spotted; or located'with respectgtothe truclcthe'v electricL motor 645 is*l actuated so; aszto; lower. they screw shaft` 43.. As,` sooni as.: the shaft-.isf lowered to thev desired. extentthe. motoris; stopped.. There;- after the hook4fisattached,tothe locomotive. truck by chains, cables; or. thev like. After; at.- tachment;ofthehooklto thetrucle theelectric mo.

tor 64' isreverselydriven. sozas; to; effect. raising of.- 5 the-screw shaft togetherswithvthetruck. If it;

is,- desired to shift the, locomotiveftruck; laterally withrespect tothe traclclstheftruck is propelled; along the bridge I4 of the gantry type supporting structure 8 by manipulating the chain 42. The screw shaft may be used to remove a motorl from the locomotive truck. It also may be used to lift the locomotive truck in connection with removal of the wheels therefrom.

The herein described portable overhead jack effectively and elciently fullls its intended purpose and is characterized by simplicity and cheapness of `design or construction and also ease of operation.

Whereas the jack has been described as being expressly designed for use in connection with dismantling trucks that have been removed from Diesel locomotives it is understood that it lmay be used in many other capacities. be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and v the tube, mounted to move vertically and havscope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I to secure by Letters along and provided with a housing, a vertical tube connected to, and extending upwards from, the upper portion of the housing, a vertical screw shaft extending through the housing and into ing'the lower end thereof exposed and provided with means for attachment to a. load, means between lthe upper end of the shaft and the tube for holding the screw shaft against rotation while at the same time permitting it to move verti-` fcally, and mechanism for raising and lowering the screw shaft, embodying a rotatable .nut mounted on the screw shaft and confined in the housing against axial displacement relatively toy It is also to the truck, a` worm wheel in the housing extending around, and connected xedly to, the nut, and a worm in said housing 'in mesh with the Worm wheel. l A

2. An overhead jack comprising agantry type supporting structure having an elongated horizontal bridge at the top thereof, a truck mounted on the bridge `to travel in either direction therealong, a vertical screw shaft carried by the truck to move vertically and provided at the lower end thereof with means for `attachment to a load, means for holding the screwshaft against rotation while at the same time permitting it to move vertically, and mechanism on the truck for raising and lowering the screw shaft, embodying a rotatable nut mounted o-n Athe screwV shaft and confined againstaxial displacement relatively to the truck, a worm wheel extending around, and connected iixedly to, the nut, a worm in mesh with the worm wheel; and a reversible electric motor connected to drive the worm.

3. An overhead jack comprising-a gantry type supporting structure consisting of a pair of laterally spaced upstanding legs with track engaging wheels at their lower ends and an elongated horizontal bridge extending between the upperends of the legs and in the form of a .pair of parallel laterally spaced channelfbeams arranged so that the webs thereof extend vertically, a truck consisting of a cast metal frame elongated lengthwise of the bridge and embodying a housing forming central part and two pairs of horizontal laterally spaced arms connected to, and extending outwards in opposite directions from, said central part, and wheels mounted rotatably adjacent the outer ends of the arms, resting on the upper anges of the beams and adapted to permit the truck to travel in either direction along the bridge, a vertical screw shaft provided at its lower end with means for attachment to a load and carried by the truck so-that it is disposed between the channel beams and is movable vertically, and gearing on the truck for raising and lowering the screw shaft. y

4. An overhead jack comprising a gantry type supporting structure having an elongated horizontal bridge at the top thereof, a truck mounted on the bridge to travel in either direction therealong and provided with a housing, a vertical tube connected to, and extending upwardly from,

the upper portion of the housing, a vertical screw.

shaft extending through the housing and into the tube, mounted to move vertically and having the lower end thereof exposed and provided with means for attachment to a load, means between the upper end of the shaft and the tube for holding the shaft against rotation while at the same time permitting it to move vertically, and vmechanism for raising and lowering the screw shaft, embodying a rotatable nut in the housing extending around the screw shaft and confined in the `housing against vertical displacement relatively to the truck, and gearing in said housing for rotating theV nut in either direction.

HUGH K. CI-UStISTIE. 

